PIN 22-05.2-ASC

This supersedes PIN 22-05.1-ASC, with updated COVID-19 vaccination, booster and testing requirements for all workers who provide services or work in Adult and Senior Care Facilities pursuant to the State PHO of 9/13/22.

The State PHO supersedes the PHO of 9/28/21 and it:

• Requires all workers who provide services or work in an ASC facility to have their first dose of a one-dose regimen or their second dose of a two-dose regimen and updates timing of required booster doses consistent with current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.

• Rescinds the testing requirement (except as specifically noted to comply with federal requirements) for workers exempt due to medical reasons or religious beliefs.

• Encourages ASC facilities to continue to offer testing for facility staff according to recommendations from the CDPH and have the ability to ramp up testing at their facility, in the event of outbreaks or should testing be required again at a future date.

• Updates timing of required booster doses consistent with current CDC recommendations.

ASC facilities must continue to comply with CDPH Masking Guidance and should wear an effective mask correctly to protect themselves and others. As a reminder, vaccination and boosters are in addition to this and other key measures such as testing, improved ventilation, and respiratory and hand hygiene. Continue to follow guidance in all applicable CDSS PINs in addition to guidance or instructions from:

CDC

CDPH

DIR/Cal/OSHA

LHD

Vaccination and Booster Requirement for All Workers in ASC Facilities

All workers who provide services or work in ASC Facilities and are not otherwise exempt continue to be required to have their first dose of a one-dose regimen or the second dose of a two-dose regimen. Two-dose vaccines include Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax, or vaccines authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO). New workers who provide services or work in an RCFE and are not otherwise exempt must be fully vaccinated (two weeks or more after they have received the second dose in a 2-dose series (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Novavax, or vaccine authorized by the World Health Organization), or two weeks or more after they have received a single-dose vaccine (Johnson and Johnson [J&J]/Janssen), and, depending on the timing of their primary series, must be boosted. If they are not yet eligible to be boosted, they must be in compliance no later than 15 days after the recommended timeframe for receiving their booster dose, specified in the table, below. All COVID-19 vaccines that are currently authorized for emergency use or U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved can be found at the FDA and WHO websites

Workers who provide proof of a COVID-19 infection after completion of their primary series may defer receiving their booster dose for up to 90 days. To provide proof of prior

infection, staff must provide documentation of previous diagnosis from their healthcare provider or confirmed laboratory results. Workers not yet eligible for their booster must be in compliance no later than 15 days after the recommended timeframe for receiving a booster dose. Workers who defer receiving their booster dose due to a proven COVID19 infection must comply no later than 15 days after the date their deferral expires.

Testing for Workers in RCFEs

The PHO rescinds the testing requirement (except as specifically noted to comply with federal requirements) for workers exempt from vaccination due to medical reasons or religious beliefs. Pursuant to updated CDC guidance, the PHO also indicates that screening testing of persons who are asymptomatic for COVID-19 with no known exposure is no longer recommended for general community settings, but may still be considered for high risk settings. RCFEs may also still consider various strategies for screening testing workers (point in time testing, serial testing, etc.) and based on concerning levels of transmission locally. Workers may also consider continuing routine diagnostic screening testing if they have underlying immunocompromising conditions (e.g., organ transplantation, cancer treatment), due to the greater risks such individuals face if they contract COVID-19. If screening testing is continued or implemented, it should include all workers, regardless of their vaccination status, given the recent variants and subvariants with significant immune evasion.

ASC Facilities should maintain testing capacity at their facilities or workers should continue to test as recommended or required during outbreaks and in the event testing is required again at a future date.

EXEMPTIONS TO VACCINATION AND BOOSTER REQUIREMENT

If the ASC facility deems a worker to have met the requirements of an exemption pursuant to this section, or a booster-eligible worker has not yet received their booster dose as specified above, the worker must observe all other infection control requirements, including masking, when entering or working in such community. The worker must wear a surgical mask, or higher-level respirator approved by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) such as an N95 filtering facepiece respirator, at all times while in the facility.

Nothing in the State Public Health Officer Order limits other applicable requirements related to Personal Protective Equipment, training, and infection control policies and practices. Licensees are encouraged to provide easy access to nearby vaccinations, use of work time to get vaccinated, and education and outreach on vaccinations.

Clearpol Inc. does not make any guarantees regarding the accuracy of the opinions provided on our platform. Please use your own judgement.

The California Department of Social Services (CDSS) has issued a new Provider Information Notice (PIN) outlining updated COVID-19 vaccination, booster, and testing requirements for workers in adult and senior care (ASC) facilities. The PIN supersedes a previous notice from March 2022 and is based on the State Public Health Officer Order from September 13, 2022. Workers in ASC facilities must comply with all required primary series and vaccine booster doses, and the PIN provides specific guidelines for when to receive booster doses based on the type of vaccine received. The notice also rescinds the testing requirement for workers exempt from vaccination due to medical reasons or religious beliefs, but encourages licensees to maintain testing capacity in case of outbreaks or future testing requirements. ASC facilities must maintain records of workers' vaccination or exemption status and provide them to authorities upon request.

Clearpol Inc. does not make any guarantees regarding the accuracy of the opinions or summaries provided on our platform. Please use your own judgement.